Shaanxi History Museum

The large complex was constructed with the structure of traditional Chinese palaces, the style of architectures in the tang dynasty.375,000 pieces of relics are exhibited in the Shaanxi history museum,of which 800 pieces are of national first level. Basic exhibition hall arranges the exhibited relics in the historic order , showing the splendid period of history from Liantian primitive men of 1 million years ago to the Opium war in the year of 1840. Completed and opened to the public on June 20, 1991 the Shaanxi History Museum may be considered the best in all Chinese museums in so far as its architectural structure, internal furnishing and high-level of display of exhibits are concerned. The putting-up of the museum is the bequest of the late Premier Zhou Enlai.

Shaanxi History Museum

Shaanxi Province is one of the places cradling the Chinese civilization, and Xi’an has ever been the capital city for 13 feudal dynasties, lasting a period of 1, 080 years and so it is deemed as the central arena in Chinese history. With an abundance of cultural leftovers either on the ground or underneath the number of royal tombs alone comes to over 70 of them in all. As early as in 1973 when Premier Zhou came together with foreign friends to visit the Shaanxi History Museum then located in the Museum of Stone Steles he pointed out: Shaanxi has many cultural relics but the exhibition halls an very small and narrow. It’s better to have a new museum built at a suitable time to be located somewhere near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Based on the unfulfilled wish of the Premier, a new museum of 10 times larger than the former was brought to completion with an endeavor of a little over four years. Specially featuring the architectural style of the Groat Tang Dynasty, which, designed by a famous lady designer Zhang Jinqiu. embodies not only the magnificence of a royal edifice for 13 dynasties bul also dwellings of populace. Using a simple tone of black, white and gray it reeks as created a space of solemnity, simplicity and splendor, a architecture, the museum can be considered a symbol of a combination of the long-standing history in China and its brilliant culture. Consisting of halls for basic, special and temporary exhibitions, the exhibition halls are the main body of the museum with showcases extending a total of 1, 500 meters and on display here are more than consists of the prelude hall. hall far local history and the central hall, adding up 6, 000 square meters in floor space. When visitor come to the bright and spacious hall in the center they’ll feel as if they were at the entrance of the Chinese history. The 2, 000 and more pieces of cultural relics on show are all selected in a meticulous way from among 113, 000 pieces stored here in this museum. Most of them are relics of grade one or two under the protection of the state with many of them being the creme de la creme gathered in from all over the province not long ago. Sculptured standing in the center of the Central Hall is a giant lion, connoting a deep implication. In the past the sculpture of a lion used to be one crouching or in slumber and you weald rarely find a lion standing on all fours, But this rearing lion is in full vigilance, signifying that China. the giant lion has already waked and stood up, alertly excavated in 1950s, 1970s and 1980s from the tomb of Prince Zhanghuai. The 2nd son of Empress Wu Zetian, Li Xian, the crown prince and the tomb of hi Xianhui, her granddaughter and some other tombs. As they are very difficult for displaying and keeping, the show to the public has thus been pat back until now.

Cultural Relics in Shaanxi History Museum

What we have on display here are 39 pieces of frescos of the Tang Dynasty. The contents cover such aspects of gods. astrology, religion, architecture, ceremonial guard of honor, hunting and social life and friendly exchanges as well, a true depiction as did happen in the Tang Dynasty then and there. Distinguished in color the frescos indicate a splendid magnificence. The mural of “Ladies in Waiting” portraits nine court ladies who are, all in graceful stature, enjoying symmetrically developed bodies. Coming along in irregular group, some have cups in hand. and others are hailing each other as though they were preparing for a grand occasion. Donned in long skirts and blouses opened low at the neck the Ladies look cheerful, all with lofty dispositions. It’s a great difference from those ladies in the silk paintings of the Song and Yuan dynasties, who are leaning on moonlit boudoir railings reeking of a fragile stance. Experts say the healthy and elegant images of the mural ladies are a true depiction of the social life and strong prosperity of the Great Tang Empire. And in the meanwhile this also did good to the rejuvenation of women’s images then, a reflection of flourishing atmosphere in society.

Among the Chinese murals from Iambs of various dynasties, those of the Tang Dynasty stand out on top of them all, both in quantity and in artistic value. They are mainly centering round Chang’an, the capital city of the Tang Dynasty. Collected in the Shaanxi History Museum are more than 1, 000 square meters of them, topping all museums in China. This time, in order to show the worldly rare treasures to the public under better protection we’ve resorted to non-ultraviolet and infrared rays for lighting up with a proper monitoring to the temperature and humidity in the showcase.